IPSWICH TOWN boss Paul Jewell expects Cardiff City to go up this season, but arrives in the Welsh capital today determined not to give them any help along the way.

The Suffolk side lie 14th in the Championship and are already in danger of seeing their season peter out, but Jewell insists his side are determined to halt the Bluebirds process.

He admits his side are in for a tough encounter with Dave Jones’ side packed with what Jewell sees as top-flight talent already.

“We know we have to roll our sleeves up as Cardiff are a team I expect to gain promotion,” said Jewell.

“They have three strikers in Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra and Jay Bothroyd who are Premier League class with the first two having already confirmed that and Bothroyd will, I’m sure, be playing in the top flight next season whether Cardiff go up or not.

“Cardiff also have a good defence and strong midfield and they are a club I admire with players who have been together for a while and one that obviously galvanised itself to fight back after the heartbreak of losing the play-off final last season.”

Jewell took over at Ipswich back in January when Roy Keane departed and he looked to have brought the magic touch.

After losing his first Championship match in charge at Millwall, his team went on a six-match unbeaten run to give hope of a late challenge for a play-off place.

But Ipswich arrive in Cardiff having earned just one point from their last three games having drawn with Hull and then crashed to 2-0 defeats at leaders QPR and last time out at home to Portsmouth.

“We had that good spell and, with results dipping a bit, we are a victim of our own success,” said Jewell.

“The team has done well, but there are some areas at the moment that we are not good enough at.

“I’ll be looking to see a similar display at Cardiff to the one we showed against Portsmouth last weekend when we annihilated them for 55 minutes, but for 90 minutes this time.

“If we do that we will win more games than we lose.”

Ipswich certainly have talent at their disposal today.

All-action midfielder Jimmy Bullard is on loan at Ipswich from Hull and former Swansea City frontman Jason Scotland is expected to lead the line.